Chapter 55 Empty Forest
POV: Luna
We run through the human forest for what feels like hours but is probably only twenty minutes.
My lungs burn. My legs ache. But I don't stop.
I can feel Miguel through the charm bracelet. The pull is stronger here, more insistent.
We're close.
"There," I gasp, pointing toward a clearing ahead.
The trees open up into a small space where the moonlight breaks through. And in the center, I see signs of a struggle.
Broken branches. Torn earth. Dark stains on the ground that might be blood.
But no Miguel.
"Miguel!" I call out, not caring if rogues hear me. "Miguel, where are you?"
Nothing.
Just the sound of wind through trees and my own racing heartbeat.
I run to the center of the clearing, dropping to my knees where the ground is disturbed.
"He was here," I say, touching the earth. "Recently. I can feel it."
Ryder crouches beside me, examining the tracks. "There was definitely a fight. Multiple wolves. And someone human."
"Then where is he?"
"He ran," Darius says, studying the tree line. "Or they took him. Hard to tell which."
"We need to keep looking." I stand up, ready to run again, but Ryder catches my arm.
"Luna, we can't. Look at the sky."
I look up. The darkness is already fading at the edges. Dawn is coming.
"We have maybe thirty minutes before the Academy realizes we're gone," Ryder says. "If we're not back by then—"
"I don't care about the Academy!" My voice cracks. "Miguel is out here somewhere. Alone. Maybe dying."
"And you can't help him if you're expelled," Nova says gently. "Or worse."
"She's right," Marcus adds. "If they catch us, they'll lock everything down. You'll never be able to leave campus again."
I want to argue. Want to tell them all to go back without me.
But I know they won't. And I know getting them all in trouble won't help Miguel.
"There has to be something," I whisper. "Some sign of where he went."
Darius walks the perimeter of the clearing, his eyes scanning the ground. Then he stops.
"Here. Fresh tracks heading east. Human sized. Running."
I rush over. He's right. Footprints in the soft earth, leading away from the clearing.
Away from his house.
Deeper into the woods.
"He's running from something," I say.
"Or toward something," Ryder suggests. "Maybe he found shelter. A place to hide."
I want so badly to follow those tracks. To keep searching until I find him.
But the sky is getting lighter by the minute.
"Luna," Nova says softly. "We have to go. Now."
I look down at the tracks one more time, memorizing their direction.
"I'm coming back," I say, even though Miguel can't hear me. "I promise. I'm coming back for you."
Ryder's hand finds mine. "Come on. Darius, can you do the transport spell again?"
"Barely. It's going to drain me completely."
"Do it anyway."
Darius pulls out the charm bracelet again, but this time he looks exhausted before he even starts chanting.
The spell takes longer this time. The world twists and blurs, but it feels sluggish. Wrong.
When we materialize back in the forest near Silverwood, Darius collapses.
"I'm fine," he gasps before anyone can ask. "Just need a minute."
"We don't have a minute," Marcus says, checking his ward detector. "The cycle is ending. We have maybe two minutes to get through the gate."
We half carry, half drag Darius through the forest.
The Academy walls come into view just as the first rays of sun break over the horizon.
"The wards are strengthening," Marcus warns. "Thirty seconds."
We run.
My muscles are screaming. Darius is barely conscious. But we push through.
Ten seconds.
Five.
We burst through the ward line just as it snaps back to full strength behind us.
For a moment, we all just stand there, gasping for breath.
"Did anyone see us?" Nova whispers.
"I don't think so," Marcus says. "The distraction worked. Guards were all at the west gate."
"Then we get back to our dorms. Separately. Act like nothing happened." Ryder looks at each of us. "Agreed?"
We nod.
Darius pushes himself upright, still pale but steady. "This never happened."
"Never happened," Nova echoes.
One by one, we slip away toward different entrances.
Ryder walks with me until we reach the main building.
"I'm sorry," he says quietly. "I'm sorry we didn't find him."
"Me too."
"But he's alive, Luna. Those tracks prove it. He got away from whatever was chasing him."
"For now."
"For now is better than nothing."
I want to believe him. Want to hold onto that hope.
But all I can think about is Miguel, somewhere in those woods, alone and terrified and running from creatures he doesn't understand.
Because of me.
"Get some sleep," Ryder says. "Real sleep. You're going to need it."
"Why?"
His expression is grim. "Because after what you said in the Great Hall, after revealing you're Eclipse, the faculty is going to push you harder than ever. They'll want to see what you can do. Test your limits."
"I can handle it."
"I know you can. Just be ready."
He leaves me at the entrance to the girls' dorms.
I slip inside, praying Nova made it back too.
She's already in our room, changed into pajamas, pretending to be asleep.
But when I close the door, she sits up.
"I can't believe we just did that," she whispers.
"I can't believe we didn't find him."
"We will. Next time."
"There might not be a next time. You heard Ryder. They're going to be watching me closer now."
Nova comes over and hugs me tight. "Then we'll figure something else out. We'll find Miguel. I promise."
I hug her back, grateful beyond words for her friendship.
But as I finally crawl into bed, all I can think about are those empty tracks in the clearing.
Miguel was there. Right there.
And I was too late.
I close my eyes, exhausted, but sleep doesn't come easily.
When it finally does, I dream of red eyes in the darkness.
And Miguel's voice calling my name.
Always just out of reach.
The next morning comes too soon.
I'm woken by someone pounding on the door.
"Luna Eclipse, you're needed in the training grounds. Now."
It's Professor Thorne's voice. Sharp and commanding.
I drag myself out of bed, my whole body aching from last night.
Nova is already awake, looking worried.
"What do you think they want?"
"Nothing good."
I get dressed quickly and head down to the training grounds.
The sun is barely up, and already most of the faculty is there.
Professor Cael. Professor Thorne. Headmaster Sterling.
And they're all looking at me.
"Miss Eclipse," the Headmaster says. "We've decided it's time to test your abilities properly."
My stomach drops. "Test them how?"
"A solo trial. You'll be sent into the forest to track and subdue a rogue creature. Alone."
"When?"
"Tonight. Under the full moon." Professor Thorne crosses his arms. "Consider it both an assessment and a consequence."
"A consequence for what?"
"For being Eclipse," he says simply. "For drawing danger to this Academy. You need to prove you can handle yourself without putting others at risk."
I want to argue. Want to tell them this isn't fair.
But I'm too tired. Too wrung out from last night.
"Fine. I'll do it."
"Good," the Headmaster says. "Report to Professor Cael at dusk. He'll provide the details."
They dismiss me, and I walk back toward the dorms in a daze.
A solo trial. Tonight.
After everything that just happened, they're sending me into the forest alone.
I don't know if I can do this.
But I don't have a choice.